Work clothes: who is responsible for paying for them, employer or employee?

Should I pay for my work clothes or should my employer do it for me? This is a question that many employers and employees ask themselves, without necessarily knowing that the law has established rules to determine precisely who should be responsible for the purchase of work clothes.

• The law

In many professions, work clothes are mandatory. This is whether for safety reasons, as in construction, crafts, or manual labor, or for hygiene reasons, as in the medical field or in the kitchen.

In the case of a high-risk job that requires secure clothing, the law requires the employer to provide the clothing to their employees.

– Article R4321-1 of the labor code:

The employer shall provide workers with the necessary work equipment, appropriate for the work to be carried out or suitably adapted for that purpose, in order to preserve their health and safety.

This law applies to all protective clothing, including safety shoes. It requires the employer to purchase the work clothes and also to maintain them, as we can see in this other law:

– Article R4323-95 of the labor code:

The personal protective equipment and work clothes mentioned in Article R. 4321-4 are provided free of charge by the employer who ensures their proper functioning and maintenance in a satisfactory hygienic condition through the necessary maintenance, repairs and replacements.

In short, whether it is for a construction job, a medical job or a cooking job, from the moment work equipment is essential to the safety of the employee or their work environment, the employer is required to provide adequate work attire.

• Where can I buy the right work clothes?

Manelli is a company specializing in workwear, providing professional and standardized clothing for professionals or individuals.

If you are looking for workwear for yourself or your employees, we invite you to discover our wide range of quality products.